Netherlands East Indies – Australia History

Dutch internees from Japanese camps and POWs received medical recuperation in Australia

There were some of 42 000 Dutch military and naval personnel and 100 000 Dutch civilians who were captured when the Japanese conquered the Netherlands East Indies in early 1942. After the War around 6,000 internees and Dutch POWs who needed immediate medical assistance were brought to Australia where they were allowed to recuperate for between 3 to 6 months, after which they were either repatriated to the Netherlands or went back to Netherlands East Indies.

By DACC, ago

Personnel of No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron: short profiles

No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAF brought together personnel of different nationalities and backgrounds. Dutch, Indonesian and Australian airmen served as pilots, observers, navigators, wireless operators, air gunners and ground personnel. Some members—including Joop van Doorn, Hans de Vries, Max Horstink and Harry Burgers—are covered in separate DACC articles. Read more

By DACC, ago

Major Jan Willem Zijlstra – Sparrow Force Timor WWII

Military record Born in Malang, Java, on 27 December 1910. Died at “Ladang” House, near Berry, New South Wales, Australia, on October 6, 1965. Army number 102417002 Second lieutenant KNIL Army (31-07-1932),  First Lieutenant (31-07-1935),  Captain. (27-05-1943), Major (17-12-1949).   Well-known decorations: ·         Ereteken Belangrijke/Bijzondere Krijgsbedrijven/-verrichtingen BK,E.1,OHK.3,OV.1,XV,KLO·         Bronze Cross K.B. Read more

By DACC, ago